Potensi dan Laju Eksploitasi Sumberdaya Ikan Kerapu di Perairan Teluk Lasongko, Kabupaten Buton, Sulawesi Tenggara:

Abstract

A grouper wich has a high economic value is one of the major predators in the coral reef ecosystem. Market demand on this fish has led to a declination in the natural grouper population. The study was aimed to estimate both the potential catch and the exploitation rate of grouper resources in Gulf of Lasongko. The potential catch of grouper was estimated by calculating MSY using a surplus production of Fox model; exploitation rate was measured based on a length-based on the growth parameter estimation. The result showed that the MSY of the humpback, brown marble, orange-spotted and leopard coral grouper consecutively were 3.72 ton year-1; 31.73 ton year-1; 66.57 ton year-1; 44.90 ton year-1. The exploitation rate of the humpback, brown marble, orange-spotted and leopard coral grouper consecutively were 0.51 year-1; 0.53 year-1; 0.52 year-1; 0.51 year-1. The results indicated that the exploitation rate of all species of groupers had reached their optimum level, however, the declination of the population was due to the habitat deterioration within the study site. A coral rehabilitation program should be conducted in enhancing coral reef coverage in the Gulf of Lasongko.